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1928 Map of Berwyn

Name: 1928 Topographic Map of Berwyn
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1945
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1945

About this map

The dense industrial and residential corridor of western Cook County is revealed during a transformative period of growth between the world wars. Major transit arteries like Ogden Ave. and Archer Ave. cut through established settlements, while the massive Clearing Industrial District and Municipal Airport define the southern landscape. The map highlights a concentration of institutional sites, including Hines Hospital, Vaughn General Hospital, and a sprawling network of burial grounds such as Concordia Cemetery and Waldheim Cemetery.

The complex intersection of the Des Plaines River with the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal and the older Illinois and Michigan Canal underscores the area's importance as a continental shipping and drainage hub. Dozens of rail lines, including the Belt Ry of Chicago and the Indiana Harbor Belt RR, weave through Berwyn, Cicero, and Stickney, illustrating the rail-driven economy that fueled the suburban expansion of Chicago.